Shipping industry changes the way it ships

The risk of lithium-ion battery fires is posing a major challenge to the shipping industry. In response, more and more carriers are rethinking their operations to ensure the safety of their personnel and equipment.

Most recently, Alaska Marine Lines (AML), a member of the Lynden Shipping Group (USA), which transports goods by barge to Alaska and Hawaii, decided to stop transporting electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles from the beginning of August.

The decision was made by AML due to concerns about the increased risks associated with the transport of large lithium-ion batteries, especially in maritime conditions where fire control and suppression are nearly impossible.

“While lithium-ion battery-related issues are infrequent, failure to extinguish or contain this type of fire, especially at sea, can have catastrophic consequences,” the company said in a statement to customers published on August 12.

Accordingly, the new policy will be applied immediately to electric vehicle transportation on routes in Central Alaska, Western Alaska and Hawaii, while Southeast Alaska will have a transition period until September 1.

However, non-plug-in hybrids and small electric vehicles such as e-bikes or quads are still allowed. The company also stressed that it will continue to evaluate the safe transport of these vehicles as safety standards and procedures improve.

The continued refusal of electric vehicles to be shipped reflects widespread concerns in the maritime industry about the fire risk from lithium-ion batteries. Photo: Alaska Business

AML's latest decision has major implications for Southeast Alaska, where electric vehicles are growing in popularity.

According to Alaska Public Media , the state-run ferry service is still transporting electric vehicles, but with strict limits: Only two electric vehicles per trip, placed in a separate area with precautions like special fire blankets to put out lithium-ion battery fires.

Like AML, Matson Inc., a leading US ocean carrier in the Pacific Ocean serving Hawaii, the US mainland, Alaska and Guam, also announced that it would stop accepting new orders for the transport of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles from July.

The decision comes after a number of serious maritime incidents involving lithium battery fires, including an electric car fire aboard the Morning Midas in the North Pacific in June that caused the ship to sink.

Such incidents have raised concerns about the transport of vehicles using large lithium-ion batteries.

Unlike dedicated car carriers with large holds, Matson's ships transport cars in individual containers, which makes it difficult to detect and extinguish fires.

"Due to growing safety concerns regarding the transport of vehicles using large lithium-ion batteries, Matson has temporarily suspended the acceptance of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles on its vessels," the shipping company said.

Still, Matson left open the possibility of resuming electric vehicle operations once appropriate safety measures are in place.

Currently, with about 37,000 electric vehicles operating in Hawaii and demand growing, consumers here must look for alternatives or wait for industry improvements to transport this particular type of cargo across the Pacific Ocean.

Decisions like AML and Matson reflect widespread concerns in the maritime industry about the fire risk from lithium-ion batteries, especially after high-profile accidents such as the Morning Midas, Felicity Ace and Fremantle Highway. In Europe, Havila has also banned the carriage of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles on its Norwegian coastal vessels from 2023.

For consumers in shipping-dependent areas like Alaska or Hawaii, these restrictions pose a major challenge in accessing electric vehicles – an increasingly popular form of transportation in the global electrification trend.

While carriers continue to research safety measures, consumers may have to look to other transportation options or wait for new safety standards.

As such, the shipping industry is under pressure to develop new technologies and processes to manage the risks from lithium-ion batteries while meeting the growing demand for electric vehicles.

In the future, solutions such as fire-resistant containers, early fire detection systems or stricter regulations could help restore confidence in shipping this type of vehicle by sea.